Beyond Nebraska

By NU Athletic Communications

| 08/21/2017

Huskers In The Olympics

Nebraska wrestlers have enjoyed success during their collegiate years, but quite a few have continued their careers on the international level and also achieved lofty accomplishments there. NU wrestling was especially in the spotlight during the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, where two former Huskers, Rulon Gardner and Matt Lindland, proudly competed for the United States.

Gardner, a 1993 All-American at Nebraska, pulled off one of the most remarkable upsets in sports history. Gardner captured the attention of the nation with his dramatic 1-0 overtime victory over previously undefeated Alexander Karelin of Russia to take the Greco-Roman heavyweight gold medal. Gardner was a two-year letterwinner for the Huskers and posted a collegiate career of 58-15-2 while at Nebraska.

Lindland, a 1993 Big 12 champion for the Huskers, was equally as impressive in Sydney, earning a silver medal at the 76 kilogram (167.5 pound) weight class of the Greco-Roman division. Lindland was a three-year letterwinner for the Huskers, compiling a career record of 60-15.

Two-time NCAA champion Jordan Burroughs won the freestyle gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. He defeated Iran’s Sadegh Saeed Goudarzi to win at 163 pounds. In addition, Burroughs captured FILA World titles in 2011, 2013 and 2015. He also wrestled at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

Below is the complete list of Nebraska wrestlers that have competed in the Olympics, including the weight and division they competed in.

Year

Wrestler

Division

Weight

Place

1960

Dan Brand

Freestyle

Light Hwt

5th

1964

Dan Brand

Freestyle

Middleweight

3rd

1988

Jim Scherr

Freestyle

198 lbs

5th

1988

Bill Scherr

Freestyle

220 lbs

3rd

2000

Rulon Gardner

Greco-Roman

Hwt

1st

2000

Matt Lindland

Greco-Roman

167 lbs

2nd

2004

Rulon Gardner

Greco-Roman

Hwt

3rd

2004

Brad Vering

Greco-Roman

185 lbs

11th

2008

Brad Vering

Greco-Roman

185 lbs

DNP

2012

Jordan Burroughs

Freestyle

163 lbs

1st

2016

Jordan Burroughs

Freestyle

163 lbs

9th

NU at the International Level

Nebraska wrestlers have enjoyed success during their collegiate years, but quite a few have continued their careers on the international level and also achieved lofty accomplishments there. Huskers have won 19 medals at the championships, including titles by Bill Scherr in 1986, Rulon Gardner in 2001 and Jordan Burroughs in 2011, 2013 and 2015. Brad Vering was named the 2007 Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year by USA Wrestling after his silver medal performance at the 2007 FILA World Championships. Listed below are achievements Nebraska wrestlers have attained in international competition, including the weight they competed in.

FILA World Championships

Year

Wrestler

Division

Weight

Place

1962

Dan Brand

Greco-Roman

97 kg

3rd

1963

Jim Raschke

Greco-Roman

Hwt.

3rd

1985

Bill Scherr

Freestyle

90 kg

1st

1986

Bill Scherr

Freestyle

100 kg

2nd

Jim Scherr

Freestyle

90 kg

3rd

1987

Bill Scherr

Freestyle

100 kg

3rd

Jim Scherr

Freestyle

90 kg

2nd

1989

Bill Scherr

Freestyle

100 kg

2nd

Jim Scherr

Freestyle

90 kg

2nd

2001

Rulon Gardner

Greco-Roman

130 kg

1st

Matt Lindland

Greco-Roman

85 kg

2nd

2005

Justin Ruiz

Greco-Roman

96 kg

3rd

Tolly Thompson

Freestyle

120 kg

3rd

2007

Brad Vering

Greco-Roman

84 kg

2nd

2010

Justin Ruiz

Greco-Roman

96 kg

5th

2011

Jordan Burroughs

Freestyle

74 kg

1st

2013

Jordan Burroughs

Freestyle

74 kg

1st

2014

Jordan Burroughs

Freestyle

74 kg

3rd

2015

Jordan Burroughs

Freestyle

74 kg

1st

James Green

Freestyle

70 kg

3rd

World Cup Champions

Year

Wreslter

Weight

1986

Jim Scherr

180.5

1989

Jim Scherr

198

Bill Scherr

220

1996

Matt Lindland

163

Rulon Gardner

Hwt

2012

Jordan Burroughs

163

2013

Jordan Burroughs

163

Pan-American Champions

Year

Wrestler

Weight

1996

Ryan Tobin

198

2011

Jordan Burroughs

163

2015

Jordan Burroughs

163

2017

James Green

154

Goodwill Games

Year

Wrestler

Weight

Place

1990

Bill Scherr

220

1st

Jim Scherr

198

2nd

1994

Brad Penrith*

126

3rd

*-Penrith was also an assistant coach for the team at the 1994 Goodwill Games.